Friday, March 13
Boca Raton, Fla.
6:00 PM
Liberty University
6-14
5
at
7
Florida Atlantic
15-12
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Atlantic | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 1 |
| Liberty | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 3 |
Owls Sneak by Lady Flames in 12 Innings
3/13/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Bolstered by a three-run 12th frame, Florida Atlantic held on to defeat Liberty, 7-5, in the longest game in Lady Flames softball history to conclude the first day's action at the FAU Parents' Weekend Tournament, Friday night, at FAU Softball Stadium.
The Owls attacked early, putting a run on the board in the top of the first inning. Blair Bodenmiller led off with a walk, and advanced when she stole second base. She then scored the first run of the game on a two-out single to right center field by Amy Bukovich. Liberty pitcher Sarah Ellis, making her second start of the day, struck out Barton to stop the damage.
Junior J'nae Jefferson recorded the first Liberty hit in the bottom of the first with a two-out single through the left side. After Jefferson stole second, the inning was over when Kaylee West struck out swinging.
Liberty tried to even the score again when Beth Bennett led off the bottom of the second with an infield single, but was thrown out at second on an attempted sacrifice bunt by Keely McMillon. Danielle Howard then grounded into a double play to end the inning with the Owls holding onto a 1-0 lead.
The Lady Flames tied it up in the bottom of the fifth. Howard led off with a single up the middle and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Later in the frame, the freshman scored on a deep double to right center by pinch hitter Ashley Bensinger to even the score, 1-1.
But Liberty couldn't keep the momentum going, as Bensinger was called out on interference when Jenny Law singled to shortstop. After Law stole second and Amber DePasquale walked, Jefferson singled up the middle but the inning was over when Law was thrown out at home by center fielder Brittany Walker.
The score remained tied, 1-1, after seven complete, sending the game into extra innings and putting the international tiebreaker rule into effect.
The Owls led off the top of the eighth with a sacrifice bunt from Kerri Croney, sending Bodenmiller to third. Florida Atlantic gained a one-run lead when Caitlyn Bliss reached on a fielder's choice with a grounder to first base, and Bodenmiller crossed home plate.
The Lady Flames started the bottom of the eighth with Strickland on second. After Law grounded out to second base and Strickland advanced to third, DePasquale grounded out to second, but drove in Strickland in the process. The score stayed tied at 2-2 going into the ninth inning.
After a scoreless ninth inning, the game moved into the tenth, and each team successfully tacked another run on the board.
Walker started the inning on second, and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Cari Curfman. Ashlyn Parmerter was next up to bat, and smacked a single to left field, scoring Walker, and the Owls took a 3-2 lead. Liberty got out of the half-inning when Bodenmiller grounded into a double play.
The Lady Flames answered right back, scoring a run of their own in the bottom of the tenth. With a pinch runner placed on second, Howard ripped a double to center field for the RBI. But she would never score, as pinch hitter Jenna Eatmon was called out for an illegal substitution, followed by a Strickland fly out. Law ended the inning by grounding out to shortstop.
The 11th inning played out in a similar way, with both teams adding another run.
Bodenmiller was placed on second, and stole third immediately. Croney then lined out to second, but Bliss singled down the left field line to drive in Bodenmiller, bringing the score to 4-3 in the Owls' favor.
DePasquale led off the bottom of the 11th inning with a bunt that got past the charge of the FAU third baseman, and Law moved to third. Jefferson followed with a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Law to tie up the score, and DePasquale advanced to third on a throwing error by the center fielder. But the runners ended up stranded, as West and Bennett were thrown out on infield grounders.
The 12th inning saw a surge from the FAU offense. Becky Brandies led off with a sacrifice bunt to advance Barton to third. Barton scored on the next play, as Walker grounded out to third base.
With two outs, Curfman singled up the middle, and Parmerter followed with a triple to right center field, adding another run. Parmerter then scored when Bodenmiller reached on a throwing error by Strickland.
Liberty entered the bottom of the 12th inning down three runs, 7-4. With Bennett on second, McMillon grounded out to shortstop and Howard grounded out to second base. With Bennett on third and two outs, Hendrix singled up the middle for a RBI. But that was all the Lady Flames could muster, as Strickland grounded out to the pitcher to end the game.
The contest was one for the record books, as the 12-inning event bested Liberty's previous record of 11 innings when the Lady Flames defeated Winthrop, 5-4, in the opening game of the 2001 Big South Softball Championship on May 5. As a team, the Lady Flames also set new standards for putouts in a game (36) and total innings pitched (12).
Individually, Ellis surpassed the program record for innings pitched, as her 12 inning, complete-game effort passed the previous mark of 10.2 innings tossed by Ali Thompson against Virginia Tech on April 23, 2001.
Parmerter batted 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored to lead the Owls, who are now 15-12 on the year, while Bliss was 3-for-6 with two RBIs to account for the home squad's lone players with multiple hits.
The Lady Flames were led by Jefferson, who was 2-for-3 with an RBI, and DePasquale, who batted 2-for-4 with an RBI. Howard was 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored.
Rose Gressley picked up the win in the circle, improving to 4-6 on the year. She threw six innings, giving up seven hits and striking out four batters. Kat Stauffer opened the game and threw the first six innings, allowing a run on seven hits, to go along with two walks and four strikeouts.
Ellis (3-8), who earlier in the day tossed seven innings in a 3-0 shutout victory over Rutgers, took the loss, scattering eight hits and two earned runs over the record-setting duration performance.
The Lady Flames, who fell to 6-14 on the year after the setback, are back in action Saturday morning, when they take on the Wildcats of Bethune-Cookman at 11 a.m.
The Owls attacked early, putting a run on the board in the top of the first inning. Blair Bodenmiller led off with a walk, and advanced when she stole second base. She then scored the first run of the game on a two-out single to right center field by Amy Bukovich. Liberty pitcher Sarah Ellis, making her second start of the day, struck out Barton to stop the damage.
Junior J'nae Jefferson recorded the first Liberty hit in the bottom of the first with a two-out single through the left side. After Jefferson stole second, the inning was over when Kaylee West struck out swinging.
Liberty tried to even the score again when Beth Bennett led off the bottom of the second with an infield single, but was thrown out at second on an attempted sacrifice bunt by Keely McMillon. Danielle Howard then grounded into a double play to end the inning with the Owls holding onto a 1-0 lead.
The Lady Flames tied it up in the bottom of the fifth. Howard led off with a single up the middle and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Later in the frame, the freshman scored on a deep double to right center by pinch hitter Ashley Bensinger to even the score, 1-1.
But Liberty couldn't keep the momentum going, as Bensinger was called out on interference when Jenny Law singled to shortstop. After Law stole second and Amber DePasquale walked, Jefferson singled up the middle but the inning was over when Law was thrown out at home by center fielder Brittany Walker.
The score remained tied, 1-1, after seven complete, sending the game into extra innings and putting the international tiebreaker rule into effect.
The Owls led off the top of the eighth with a sacrifice bunt from Kerri Croney, sending Bodenmiller to third. Florida Atlantic gained a one-run lead when Caitlyn Bliss reached on a fielder's choice with a grounder to first base, and Bodenmiller crossed home plate.
The Lady Flames started the bottom of the eighth with Strickland on second. After Law grounded out to second base and Strickland advanced to third, DePasquale grounded out to second, but drove in Strickland in the process. The score stayed tied at 2-2 going into the ninth inning.
After a scoreless ninth inning, the game moved into the tenth, and each team successfully tacked another run on the board.
Walker started the inning on second, and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Cari Curfman. Ashlyn Parmerter was next up to bat, and smacked a single to left field, scoring Walker, and the Owls took a 3-2 lead. Liberty got out of the half-inning when Bodenmiller grounded into a double play.
The Lady Flames answered right back, scoring a run of their own in the bottom of the tenth. With a pinch runner placed on second, Howard ripped a double to center field for the RBI. But she would never score, as pinch hitter Jenna Eatmon was called out for an illegal substitution, followed by a Strickland fly out. Law ended the inning by grounding out to shortstop.
The 11th inning played out in a similar way, with both teams adding another run.
Bodenmiller was placed on second, and stole third immediately. Croney then lined out to second, but Bliss singled down the left field line to drive in Bodenmiller, bringing the score to 4-3 in the Owls' favor.
DePasquale led off the bottom of the 11th inning with a bunt that got past the charge of the FAU third baseman, and Law moved to third. Jefferson followed with a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Law to tie up the score, and DePasquale advanced to third on a throwing error by the center fielder. But the runners ended up stranded, as West and Bennett were thrown out on infield grounders.
The 12th inning saw a surge from the FAU offense. Becky Brandies led off with a sacrifice bunt to advance Barton to third. Barton scored on the next play, as Walker grounded out to third base.
With two outs, Curfman singled up the middle, and Parmerter followed with a triple to right center field, adding another run. Parmerter then scored when Bodenmiller reached on a throwing error by Strickland.
Liberty entered the bottom of the 12th inning down three runs, 7-4. With Bennett on second, McMillon grounded out to shortstop and Howard grounded out to second base. With Bennett on third and two outs, Hendrix singled up the middle for a RBI. But that was all the Lady Flames could muster, as Strickland grounded out to the pitcher to end the game.
The contest was one for the record books, as the 12-inning event bested Liberty's previous record of 11 innings when the Lady Flames defeated Winthrop, 5-4, in the opening game of the 2001 Big South Softball Championship on May 5. As a team, the Lady Flames also set new standards for putouts in a game (36) and total innings pitched (12).
Individually, Ellis surpassed the program record for innings pitched, as her 12 inning, complete-game effort passed the previous mark of 10.2 innings tossed by Ali Thompson against Virginia Tech on April 23, 2001.
Parmerter batted 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored to lead the Owls, who are now 15-12 on the year, while Bliss was 3-for-6 with two RBIs to account for the home squad's lone players with multiple hits.
The Lady Flames were led by Jefferson, who was 2-for-3 with an RBI, and DePasquale, who batted 2-for-4 with an RBI. Howard was 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored.
Rose Gressley picked up the win in the circle, improving to 4-6 on the year. She threw six innings, giving up seven hits and striking out four batters. Kat Stauffer opened the game and threw the first six innings, allowing a run on seven hits, to go along with two walks and four strikeouts.
Ellis (3-8), who earlier in the day tossed seven innings in a 3-0 shutout victory over Rutgers, took the loss, scattering eight hits and two earned runs over the record-setting duration performance.
The Lady Flames, who fell to 6-14 on the year after the setback, are back in action Saturday morning, when they take on the Wildcats of Bethune-Cookman at 11 a.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Gressley, Rose (4-6)
L: Ellis, Sarah (3-8)
Batting:
3B: Bukovich, Amy 1 ; Parmerter, Ashlyn 1
RBI: Bliss, Caitlyn 2 ; Bukovich, Amy 1 ; Walker, Brittany 1 ; Parmerter, Ashlyn 2
SH: Croney, Kerri 2 ; Barton, Amber 1 ; Brandies, Becky 1 ; Curfman, Cari 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Bodenmiller, Blair 3 ; Barton, Amber 1 ; Walker, Brittany 1 ; Curfman, Cari 1 ; Parmerter, Ashlyn 1
SB: Bodenmiller, Blair 2
CS: Walker, Brittany 1
HBP: Croney, Kerri 1
Batting:
2B: Howard, Danielle 1 ; Bensinger, Ashley 1
RBI: DePasquale, Amber 1 ; Jefferson, J'nae 1 ; Howard, Danielle 1 ; Hendrix, Cassie 1 ; Bensinger, Ashley 1
SH: Law, Jenny 1 ; DePasquale, Amber 1 ; Jefferson, J'nae 1 ; West, Kaylee 1
SF: Jefferson, J'nae 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Law, Jenny 1 ; Bennett, Beth 1 ; Pittman, Jennifer 1 ; Howard, Danielle 1 ; Strickland, Kelly 1
SB: Law, Jenny 1 ; Jefferson, J'nae 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
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